Stony Brook University was established in 1957 as a college for the preparation of secondary school teachers of mathematics and science; our first campus was located at Oyster Bay, Long Island, on the grounds of a former Gold Coast estate. In 1962, a new campus was built in Stony Brook, on land donated by local philanthropist Ward Melville. Part of the State University of New York system, Stony Brook now encompasses 123 buildings on 1,100 acres. In the nearly fifty years since its founding, the University has grown tremendously, and is now recognized as one of the nation’s important centers of learning and scholarship—carrying out the mandate given by the State Board of Regents in 1960 to become a university that would “stand with the finest in the country.”

Stony Brook University ranks in the top 1 percent of all universities in the world. The London Times Higher Education Supplement placed Stony Brook 127 among more than 12,000 universities worldwide, and in the top 50 in North America. Among science universities, Stony Brook ranks in the top 100 in the world, top 25 in North America, and top 10 among public universities. Stony Brook has been ranked in the top 100 National Universities by U.S. News & World Report and included on their list of notable programs for undergraduate research/creative projects

* The University offers 61 undergraduate majors and 68 minors, 102 master’s programs, 40 doctoral programs, and 32 graduate certificate programs.
* Ten doctoral programs are ranked in the top 40 nationwide, with two in the top ten and four in the top 20.
* Stony Brook is one of ten universities given a National Science Foundation recognition award for integrating research and education.